Los Angeles Lakers moved beyond the transfer deadline and beyond add Rui Hachimura A few weeks ago, this time they made a transfer with a bigger impact: sent Russell Westbrook and a 2027 first-round pick (top 4 protection) in Utah, receiving in return D’Angelo Russell (via Timberwolves), Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt (later they also added Davon Reed for Thomas Bryant).
While there is room for debate about what successful or not of the exchangethere is an undeniable reality: in the short term, The Lakers are a better team than they were a few hours ago. Russell can already be seen as a slight upgrade on Westbrook, while they also added two solid role pieces in Beasley and Vanderbilt.
But Where exactly are the Lakers after these moves and what can they expect in 2022-2023? We analyze it.
The lace of embedded players
Malik Beasley
Beasley’s role seems to be very clear and not too different from what he has done in recent years: sixth man and specialist scorer/shooterwhich will fulfill a function similar to the one it had Monk Malik to the Lakers last season.
The Lakers are the Second team with fewest 3-pointers per game and Beasley can help in that area. Although for that he needs to improve on the low percentages he brings in this campaign: 35.9%. His lowest 3-point average in the past five seasons.
Still, Beasley should be a good fit for the Los Angeles team and take advantage of the game with a quarterback of James caliber, which usually empowers shooters of this type. Of course, it gives the defense advantages.
D’Angelo Russell
Russell is clearly the the longer transfer name for the Lakers and another player who will help a lot with the shooting from three: 2.7 conversions and 39% success on this campaign. D-Lo You already know what it’s like to wear gold and purple (he played his first two NBA years there) alongside a legend: before Kobe Bryanttoday Lebron James.
Russell will be the the team’s starting point guard, a clear improvement over what the Lakers had at that spot with Schroeder, Beverley and Westbrook. However, you will also have significant challenges to face: adapt to playing without the ball in their hands with James and AD on his side and not being an easy target on defense, as he has been for most of his major league career.
In addition to this, Los Angeles adds a player who should empower Davis in the pick and roll game and give a jump in overall quality to Ham’s men’s attack (ranked 19th).
vanderbilt vase
We’ll see if Vanderbilt is the immediate starter or if Ham keeps Hachimura at this point. The profiles are very different: the Japanese has much better shooting and scoring power, while the former Utah native is a defensive specialist who offers little in the opposing half of the field. As a starter for Salt Lake City, he scored in double figures in just 15 of 52 games this season.
If Beasley and Russell help the offense, Vanderbilt will give the Lakers strength on defense. The pairing with AD shows promise on that side, although it is aggressive it will complicate it distance: nor does he have a reliable perimeter shot (Davis had it, but has lost it almost entirely).
From a quintet, it wouldn’t be out of the question for Ham to keep Hachimura as a starter from then on Vanderbilt as five substitutes.
Davon Reed
The Lakers also added Davon Reed in exchange for Thomas Bryant. Not many minutes are expected for the exDenver, other than the fact that it is another forward who can help with the 3-pointer: 38.4% in his major league career.
How is the new Los Angeles Lakers rotation?
| Position | Headings | substitutes |
|---|---|---|
| Base | D’Angelo Russell | Dennis Schroeder |
| Shooting guard | Patrick Beverley | Malik Beasley | Austin Reeves |
| Eaves | Lebron James | Troy Brown | Lonnie Walker | Davon Reed |
| Inside | Rui Hachimura | Venien Gabriel |
| Inside | Anthony Davis | vanderbilt vase |
Los Angeles Lakers in the playoffs?
While these moves are being made, the Lakers are 13th in the Western Region with 25-30 record. Hamm’s first target for them will be they rise to at least 10th placein order to compete in play-in for a spot in the postseason.
It currently holds tenth place Portlandwith two games ahead for the Lakers. Not impossible at all. In the middle is one Jute which will no doubt start to drop in the rankings and a Oklahoma City that it is still unclear whether he will seek to compete for the Playoffs or position himself for the Draft. The trail is relatively smooth to climb.
In this scenario, it seems realistic to imagine the Lakers breaking into the Top 10 West, even though it will be very difficult for them to go very far. The logic seems to lie between a seventh and tenth place, in the best case. Direct ranking in the Playoffs (Top 6) is a long way off.
If, as expected, Hamm’s make it into this Top 10, they should win a match or two (according to your ranking). to gain access to the postseason. The challenge will not be easy: the moves make them better, but not noticeably superior to the opponents they may face in this Play-In, such as Kings, Pelicans, Timberwolves or Warriors.
Of course, if they qualify for the playoffs as the seventh or eighth seed, it’s hard to imagine them going past this 1st Round. groups like Nuggets, Grizzlies, Mavericks or Suns They still seem a step or two above the Lakers, and despite the mystification of the franchise and its stars, they would start these series clearly as underdogs.
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the NBA or its organizations.
